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Category Archives: Jesus Christ – Songs

Items needed: a large piece of white semi-transparent fabric, magnets, and a white poster board.

For visuals on this verse I used items from OCD Primary Chorister to match the visuals I used in the other two verses (or the above posted pictures can be used instead and can be found here). I copied, pasted, and cropped the pictures containing the scriptures, the parents, the boy praying, and one picture each of the boy and the girl doing the right things. Copy and paste the pictures of the children choosing the right into these thought bubbles. You will also need enlarged individual pictures of the girl and boy that were used in the other verses. Print all the pictures and cut them out. Tape or glue the pictures of the individual boy and girl onto the bottom of the fabric. Put a magnet on the back of the other pictures of the fabric.

Print the four parts of the large picture of the Savior. Cut and fit the pieces together using glue or tape. Also print the picture of the prophet and the heart. Cut them out and put a magnet on the back of each.

Cut the fabric so that it is the same size as the completed picture of the Savior. Glue or tape magnets to the back, top corners.

Remind the children that the first two verses consider whether we would do or say certain things differently if we could see the Savior standing next to us. The third verse tells us that even though we can’t see the Savior, he is always near and is aware of what we are doing and saying.

Put the first line on the board.

He is always near me, though I do not see him there. Put the large picture of the Savior on the board and the fabric over the top of the large picture as you say the words to the first line. Cover the picture with the poster board and ask the following question: Because we can’t see the picture does that mean it isn’t there? The picture is still there even though we can’t see it, which is similar to the Savior. Even though we can’t see the Savior, he is watching over us.

(Take off poster board covering and have the children sing this first line. After the children sing, put the next line on the board.)

And because he loves me dearly, I am in his watchful care. Put the heart on the picture of the Savior and explain that because the Savior loves us he wants what’s best for us, so he wants us to say and do good things in life. He watches over us and provides help and guidance through the Holy Ghost, the scriptures, parents, the prophet, etc. (Put up the pictures of the scriptures, family, prophet, and prayer on the board around the top of the large picture of Christ as each are mentioned, then have the children sing this line. After they sing, put up the next line on the board.)

So I’ll be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be Knowing that the Savior loves us and is watching over us helps us try to be the kind of person that we should be. (Put the thought bubble pictures above the pictures of the children.)

Explain that the last line is the same as in the first two verses, but it is drawn out a little at the end. Have the pianist play it so they can hear how it sounds. Have the children sing these last two lines, and afterwards have them sing the whole verse.)

Take off one of the word pages, or cover parts with cardstock. Choose a volunteer to put up the visuals as the children sing the verse again. Continue in this manner, taking off word pages and having different volunteers try to put the visuals on the board correctly and at the right times in the song, until all the word pages are off the board.

Items needed: 18 feet of string or fishing line and two cans, two crayons (one yellow and one dark brown or black), and a small bag or bowl.

Print the second verse pictures from the following website – OCD Primary Chorister. I copied and pasted the first picture of the girl onto Microsoft Word and then cropped and enlarged it. I printed two copies and cut out the pictures. I printed two copies of this picture of the Savior and glued on one picture of the girl to the right side of each picture. I used these page for the last line of the verse and for the line “if he were never far away.”

Print the word chart and word strips. Cut out the word strips. Fold them and put them into a small bag or bowl. The word chart is based on the one found in the February Ensign.

Make a homemade phone by hammering a hole into the top of each metal can with a nail. Put one end of the string into the hole at the top of one can. Pull it through a little and tie the end into a knot. Put the other end of the string into the hole at the top of the other can. Pull it through and tie its end into a knot.

Presentation

Explain that the first line in this verse is the same as in the first verse. – If the Savior stood beside me. (Put up the picture of the Savior with the children (from verse one visuals) at the top of the board. )

Remind the children that the first verse was about the things we do. Explain that the second verse is about the things we say. Show the first word bubble and explain that word bubbles are used as visual aids to help remind them that the verse is about the things we say.

Put the first word bubble and picture on the board.

Would I say the things I say? Discuss the picture by pointing out that the big sister’s words are making her little brother feel bad and cry. Ask the children if they think she would change how she is talking about her brother if the Savior was standing next to her. Remind them that the Savior would like our words to be things that would lift and help people, not hurt or make them sad or tear them down.

Put up the next word bubble and picture on the board. (After discussing this line, continue in this manner–putting up the word bubble and matching picture and then discussing it–for the rest of the lines in the verse.)

Would my words be true and kind Explain that the word “true” in this sentence means sincere and loyal. In this picture it looks like the girl changed her words to be more kind and loving toward her brother. Point out that he is now smiling and looks happy.

If He were never far away? Put up the picture of the girl standing by the Savior. (Have the children sing all of the song lines up to this point.)

Would I try to share the gospel? Explain that the girl in the picture is telling her friend about the Book of Mormon. Ask the children if they think talking about the gospel would be words that would help and lift others.

Would I speak more reverently? Point out that the girl in the picture has her arms folded. Remind the children that when we speak to our Heavenly Father we fold our arms and bow our heads to show reverence. Explain that we should also speak reverently when we talk about the gospel, or about sacred things, or when we are in the Lord’s house. (Though we don’t necessarily need to fold our arms in the process.)

Put up the last picture and explain that the last line is the same as the first verse. Have the children sing these last three lines of the verse, and then have them sing the entire verse.

Memorizing Activity

Tell the children they are going to do an activity as they memorize the verse. The activity will help remind them that our words affect people. Explain that in a recent Ensign article, President Uchdorf said our words should be a “light to others”. A word chart activity was included in the article (show the word chart and put it on the board) to help children think about different kinds of words and how they can lighten up and brighten someone’s day or make a day dark and dreary.

Get two volunteers, preferably children who have been putting effort into singing the song. Show the children the homemade can phones. Explain that you will choose one of the words from the bag, which contains the same words that are on the chart. You will show it to one of the volunteers. That volunteer will speak the word into the can. The other child will plug one ear and hold the can to the other ear and listen. That child will tell everyone what word was spoken. If the child is correct he/she gets to draw a bright smiley face or dark unhappy face over the word on the chart, depending on how it would make someone feel. The other child will choose one of the word bubbles to take off the board. Have the children sing the song again. Continue in this manner until all the word bubbles are off the board. The pictures can be taken off next using the same activity.

Note: The string should be taut between the two cans while they are doing the activity.

Preparation
• Items needed: five pages of different colors of construction paper (not blue or black), three pages of blue construction paper, tape, a black marker, magnets, and a metal chain.
• Print the word strips. Cut the word pages in half. (Trim off any extra paper if desired.)
• Print pictures for the first verse. (Look on Sugardoodle.com.) I used the pictures from the OCD Primary Chorister website. I really appreciated these pictures because they tell the verse in story form. But the pictures of the Savior didn’t portray him as I wanted, so I used this picture for the first line, and I copied, pasted, and enlarged her first picture onto Microsoft Word, and then I printed and cut out the picture of the boy and glued him onto the right side of this picture of the Savior. I used this page for the last line of the verse.
• Cut the construction paper into 1 ½ inch strips. (widthwise)
• Cut pieces of tape and hang them on the bottom rim of the chalkboard.

Presentation
Put the picture of the Savior with the children at the top, middle of the board and put the song title below it. Explain that these words are the title of the song and they are also the first line of the song.

Next explain that there are five questions that go with this first line. Put the first question on the board with its matching picture above it.

Point out that the child in the picture isn’t being kind. Ask if they think the child would be less likely to do something like that if the Savior was standing next to them. Ask what other kinds of things a person might try more carefully not to do if the Savior was standing next to him. Write each of the children’s responses on a colored strip of paper. After each response, have that child come up and make a chain link with their response(using the tape). Add a blue strip after each response. The answers will form a chain. Make sure their links face forward so people can see their answers. Using the magnets, hang the chain under the question. (Do the same chain activity with each question, taking only three responses per question.)

1. Would I do the things I do? (After discussing this question have the children sing the first two lines of the verse.)

2. Would I think of His Commandments Point out that the child in the picture is thinking about the Ten Commandments. Where are the commandments found? In the scriptures. What are some of the commandments Jesus has given us?

3. Try harder to be true? (There is not a picture for this line.) To be true means to be faithful and trustworthy. In what ways can we try harder to be true to the Savior? (Have the children sing these two lines.)

4. Would I follow His example? What is happening in this picture? The boy is trying to be like the Savior and be kind.. What other things did the Savior do that we could follow and do?

5. Would I live more righteously? Point out the CTR shield in the picture and explain that when we are choosing the right we are living righteously. What things can we do to in order to live more righteously? (Sing these two lines.)

Explain that the last line of the verse is -“If I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me.” Put the picture that goes with this line on the board. Put half the line above the picture and half below the picture. Explain that the word “Nigh” means close or near.

Show a metal chain and explain that the links help make it stronger than having just a single strip of metal. A single strip of metal might bend and break. Point to the chain the kids made and explain that the blue links represent the Savior standing near to them. Remind them that being near to the Savior makes us more likely to do right things, which makes us spiritually stronger. Explain that in the third verse of the song we will discuss more about the concept of the Savior being near.

Have the children sing the entire verse.

To memorize this verse, take off a couple of lines at a time (not the pictures), and then have them sing the verse again. Continue in this manner until all the lines are gone. After that remove a few pictures at a time.

Select and print the verse lines you wish to review. Also print the large pictures that go with that verse. Cut out the large pictures.

Cut the verse lines into strips so that a few words and a picture is on each strip. Line up the strips in order, and tape together the ends so you have one long strip. (In order to fit the strip on the board, divide each verse into three parts so you end up with three strips.)

Tape the end of one strip onto a popsicle stick. Glue or tape strong magnets to each side of the popsicle stick on the top and bottom. Roll up the strip onto the popsicle stick. Tape another popsicle stick to the start of the roll. Attach magnets to the ends of that stick. Do the same process with the other two strips.

Presentation

Put the first part of the verse on the far left side of the board. The magnets on the popsicle sticks should hold the rolled up strip in place. Unroll the first few words, but not the picture that goes with the words. Put the pictures in random order on the bottom of the board.

Explain to the children that each of the pictures goes with two or three words in the verse. Point out the words you have showing on the strip. See if the children can pick out the picture that goes with those words. Have a child put the picture above the words and then unroll the strip a little to see if the pictures match.

Senior Primary: Explain that you aren’t going to show them the words that come next. They have to try and think of the words in their mind, and then pick out a picture and unroll the strip to see if they are right.

Junior Primary: Show the children a set of words, and tell them what they say. Have them pick out a picture that goes with those words and then unroll the strip to see if they are right.

Every time the children complete a sentence, have them sing that sentence. Then roll up the previous sentence, and see if they can sing the previous sentences using only the pictures as reference.

When one roll is done, put up the next roll and do the same activity with it.

Note: You may wish to discuss some of the pictures, such as the person climbing a mountain for the words “I’m trying”. Explain that it takes effort to climb a mountain, and the words “I’m trying” indicate putting effort into something.